Backpack for a Dancer

ABSTRACT

A backpack has a backpack housing forming an internal compartment that has a first inner surface and a second inner surface. An access opening for accessing the internal compartment has a closure mechanism for removably closing the internal compartment, the backpack housing further having shoulder straps. A dance shoe organizer includes a panel of flexible material having a front face and a rear face. The front face of the panel has a plurality of mesh coverings spaced longitudinally along the panel, each of the mesh coverings forming a plurality of shoe pockets. A strap fastens the panel in a folded configuration, and a hook is attached to the strap of the panel. A securing flap is attached to the first inner surface and forms an organizer compartment shaped to receive the dance shoe organizer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to backpacks, and more particularly to a backpack adapted for use by a dancer, and in particular to contain dance shoes and other dance related paraphernalia.

Description of Related Art

Many different types of backpacks exist within the prior art, having commonly associated features such as a main compartment with closure, mesh pockets, etc. However, there remains a large number of fields which have highly specific needs for a backpack or other type of bag, such as dance or gym backpacks.

The prior art teaches general purpose backpacks; however, the prior art does not teach a backpack that is particularly adapted to contain a foldable shoe organizer for dance shoes, as well as including other features useful for dance and/or similar athletics. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further advantages as described in the following summary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below.

The present invention provides a backpack adapted to contain dance shoes to be worn by a user, the backpack comprising a backpack housing forming an internal compartment, the internal compartment having a first inner surface and a second inner surface. An access opening for accessing the internal compartment has a closure mechanism for removably closing the internal compartment, and the backpack housing has shoulder straps so that the user may carry the backpack. A dance shoe organizer comprises a panel of flexible material having a front face and a rear face that extend to a top edge, a bottom edge, and two side edges, the panel extending a longitudinal length that is longer than a lateral length of the panel. The front face of the panel has a plurality of mesh coverings spaced longitudinally along the panel, each of the mesh coverings having a fastenable opening formed thereupon so that each of the mesh coverings forms, with the panel, one of a plurality of shoe pockets. A strap is attached to the rear face and has a securing mechanism for fastening the panel in a folded configuration wherein the panel is rolled longitudinally such that substantially only the rear face is exposed. A hook is attached to the strap of the panel, and a securing flap having a top edge, a bottom edge, and side edges is attached to the first inner surface of the backpack housing along the bottom and side edges to form an organizer compartment shaped to receive the dance shoe organizer.

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a backpack having advantages not taught by the prior art.

Another objective is to provide a backpack that includes a dance shoe organizer contained by the backpack.

A further objective is to provide a backpack that is ideal for storage of various dance paraphernalia.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. In such drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a backpack according to one embodiment of the present invention and showing the backpack in an open configuration;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view thereof taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view thereof taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a dance shoe organizer of the backpack in an unrolled position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The above-described drawing figures illustrate the invention, a backpack 10 adapted for use by a dancer, and in particular to contain dance shoes 12 to be worn by the dancer, along with other items required by dancers.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the backpack 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention and showing the backpack 10 in an open configuration. As shown in FIG. 1, the backpack 10 comprises a backpack housing 20 forming an internal compartment 22 that contains a dance shoe organizer 50, which is discussed in greater detail below.

In this embodiment, the internal compartment 22 is formed between a first inner surface 24 (and best shown in FIG. 2) and a second inner surface 26 (shown in FIG. 3). The internal compartment 22 is accessed via an opening 28 for accessing the internal compartment 22, the access opening 28 having a closure mechanism 32 for removably closing the internal compartment 22. In this embodiment, the closure mechanism 32 is in the form of a zipper; however, in other embodiments, the closure mechanism 32 may be in the form of any other type of fastener commonly used for this type of closure, e.g., hook-and-loop fasteners, buttons, clips, etc.

In this embodiment, the backpack housing 20 further comprises a front pocket flap 30 attached (e.g., sewn) to a front surface 21 of the backpack housing 20, opposite the second inner surface 26 (of FIG. 3). The front pocket flap 30 may have an elastic upper edge 31 for securing items within the pocket 30, and in some embodiments, the front pocket flap 30 may be formed of an insulated material for food storage.

A cover face 36 is hingably attached to the backpack housing 20 for removably covering the front pocket flap 30, and may be closed over the flap 30 using fastener 38. The fastener 38 in this case is also a zipper, but may be in the form of any suitable fastened known in the art, e.g., press-studs, magnets, hook-and-loop fasteners, or any other type of fastener known in the art. The cover face 36 may have a rear face 35 that includes two zippered mesh pockets 37, but the rear face 35 may have a greater or lesser number of pockets 37 with different types of closures.

A pair of loop handles 40, each on opposing sides of the closure mechanism 32, may be attached to the backpack housing 20, so that they together may be grasped for lifting the backpack 10. Furthermore, shoulder straps 42 may further be attached to a rear face 44 of the backpack housing 20 so that the user may carry the backpack 10. In some embodiments, the shoulder straps 42 may be attached to any part of the backpack housing 20, or the backpack housing 20 may include only the pair of handles 40. The backpack 10 may further comprise water bottle pockets 46 formed on sides 48 of the backpack housing 20, each adapted to contain a water bottle (not shown). In this embodiment, the water bottle pockets 46 may include an elastic edge 47 for securing the water bottles within the pockets 46.

The backpack 10 further includes a dance shoe organizer 50 which is particularly sized and shaped to fit within the backpack housing 20, as discussed in greater detail below. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the backpack 10 taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the dance shoe organizer 50 is adapted to be secured to the first inner surface 24 of the internal compartment 22. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the panel may be rolled into a folded configuration. A strap 60 is attached to a rear face 54 b of the dance shoe organizer 50, wherein the panel may be rolled longitudinally such that substantially only a rear face 54 b is exposed, and fastened with a securing mechanism 62. The strap 60 may be constructed of an elastic material, or any other material suitable for this type of closure. In this embodiment, the securing mechanism 62 is in the form of a press stud, but in other embodiments, it may be in the form of a hook-and-loop fastener, buttons, clips, etc. A hook 64 is further attached to the strap 60 of the dance shoe organizer 50 for hanging the organizer in an unrolled configuration, or for attachment to the first inner surface 24 of the internal compartment 22. However, in other embodiments, the hook 64 may be attached to the top edge 56 a of the organizer 50, or any other suitable location for hanging the organizer 50. The dance shoe organizer 50 is shown in the unrolled configuration in FIG. 4 and discussed below.

As shown in FIG. 2, the internal compartment 22 of the backpack 10 has a securing flap 66 comprising a top edge 68 a, a bottom edge 68 b, and side edges 73, the securing flap 66 being attached to the first inner surface 24 of the internal compartment 22 along the bottom and side edges 68 b and 73 to form an organizer compartment 70 shaped to receive the dance shoe organizer 50. The securing flap 66 has a lateral width W1 that is larger than a width W2 of the dance shoe organizer 50 in the folded configuration, such that the organizer 50 fits snugly within the organizer compartment 70. In this embodiment, the securing flap 66 further comprises an elastic band 72 secured to the top edge 68 a to bias it towards the first inner surface 24, thereby securely holding the dance shoe organizer 50 between the securing flap 66 and the first inner surface 24. The hook 64 of the panel may attach to the elastic band 72, or to a receiver constructed on the first inner surface 24 (not shown). However, in some embodiments, the hook 64 may not attach to the internal compartment 22, and the dance shoe organizer 50 is instead retained by the elastic band 72.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the backpack 10 taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the second inner surface 26 of the backpack 10 may include a plurality of pockets, particularly as may be suitable for containing dance paraphernalia. In this embodiment, the second inner surface 26 includes a lower mesh pocket 74, a smaller pocket 76 a distance above the pocket 74 having a closure 77, and an upper pocket 78. The lower mesh pocket 74 includes a top edge 75 that may be elastic for retaining items such as smaller dance apparel (tights, underwear, etc.), the mesh allowing breathability. The smaller pocket 76 may be useful for small important items, such as wallet, phone, keys, etc. In this embodiment, the closure is in the form of a lateral zipper, but in other embodiments may be any type of securing closure (hook and loop fasteners, buttons, etc.). The upper pocket 78 is constructed behind the pockets 74 and 76, and has an upper opening 79, such that the upper pocket 78 is capable of holding the largest volume of items within, such as street clothing, etc. In other embodiments, there may be any number of different pockets and features commonly associated with this type of backpack 10.

FIG. 4 illustrates the dance shoe organizer 50 of the backpack 10 in the unrolled position. As discussed above, the dance shoe organizer 50 comprises the panel of flexible material 52 having the front face 54 a and the rear face 54 b that extend to a top edge 56 a, a bottom edge 56 b, and two side edges 58. The panel extends a longitudinal length L1 that is longer than a lateral length L2 of the panel.

As shown in FIG. 4, the front face 54 a of the panel comprises a plurality of mesh coverings 80 spaced longitudinally along the panel, each of the mesh coverings having a fastenable opening 82 formed thereupon so that each of the mesh coverings forms, with the panel, one of a plurality of shoe pockets 81. In this embodiment, the fastenable openings 82 are fastened with zippers. However, in other embodiments, the openings may be fastened via any other type of fastener commonly used for this type of closure, e.g., hook-and-loop fasteners, buttons, clips, etc. The hook 64 attached to the strap 60 of the panel may be used to hang the dance shoe organizer 50 in the unrolled configuration.

Each of the plurality of mesh coverings 80 are sized and adapted to contain a pair of the dance shoes 12, i.e., canvas or leather ballet slippers, jazz shoes, pointe shoes, etc. In some embodiments, the front face 54 a of the panel may further include smaller mesh pockets 84 having upper openings 85 adapted to contain other dance-related items such as toe pads, toe spacers, band-aids, baby powder, etc. However, in other embodiments, the plurality of mesh coverings 80 may contain any type of shoe or similar item, according to the needs of the consumer.

As used in this application, the words “a,” “an,” and “one” are defined to include one or more of the referenced item unless specifically stated otherwise. The terms “approximately” and “about” are defined to mean+/−10%, unless otherwise stated. Also, the terms “have,” “include,” “contain,” and similar terms are defined to mean “comprising” unless specifically stated otherwise. Furthermore, the terminology used in the specification provided above is hereby defined to include similar and/or equivalent terms, and/or alternative embodiments that would be considered obvious to one skilled in the art given the teachings of the present patent application. While the invention has been described with reference to at least one particular embodiment, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not limited to these embodiments, but rather the scope of the invention is defined by claims made to the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A backpack adapted to contain dance shoes to be worn by a user, the backpack comprising: a backpack housing forming an internal compartment, the internal compartment having a first inner surface and a second inner surface; an access opening for accessing the internal compartment, the access opening having a closure mechanism for removably closing the internal compartment; shoulder straps attached to the backpack housing so that the user may carry the backpack; a dance shoe organizer comprising: a panel of flexible material having a front face and a rear face that extend to a top edge, a bottom edge, and two side edges, the panel extending a longitudinal length that is longer than a lateral length of the panel; the front face of the panel having a plurality of mesh coverings spaced longitudinally along the panel, each of the mesh coverings having a fastenable opening formed thereupon so that each of the mesh coverings forms, with the panel, one of a plurality of shoe pockets; a strap attached to the rear face, the strap having a securing mechanism for fastening the panel in a folded configuration wherein the panel is rolled longitudinally such that substantially only the rear face is exposed; and a hook attached to the strap of the panel; and a securing flap having a top edge, a bottom edge, and side edges, the securing flap being attached to the first inner surface of the backpack housing along the bottom and side edges to form an organizer compartment shaped to receive the dance shoe organizer.
 2. The backpack of claim 1, further comprising an elastic band secured to the top edge of the securing flap to bias the top edge towards the first inner surface, thereby securely holding the dance shoe organizer between the securing flap and the first inner surface.
 3. The backpack of claim 1, further comprising a front pocket formed on a front surface of the backpack housing, and a cover face for removably covering the front pocket with a fastener.
 4. The backpack of claim 1, further comprising water bottle pockets formed on sides of the backpack housing, each adapted to contain a water bottle. 